Today With Pippa Biddle:

Today with Pippa Biddle, CEO and co-founder of Quittner, we explore why newsletters are becoming the most powerful marketing tool for designers – outperforming social media with 70-85% open rates. Pippa shares how she transformed her business communications from dry corporate speak to authentic storytelling, creating a newsletter that builds genuine community and drives sales. Learn why email marketing gives you ownership of your audience, how to find your authentic voice, and practical strategies for crafting newsletters that people actually want to read. Plus, discover the unexpected ROI of choosing email over chasing social media algorithms.

LuAnn Nigara and Pippa Biddle’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“I think for most people, social media is junk food, newsletters are protein. You do not want to turn your protein into junk food, then it’s just junk food too.” – Pippa

“You do not own your audience on social media platforms. You do not have their email addresses and only a tiny fraction of the people who follow you see what you put out into the world.” – Pippa

“Luxury is built on relationships and trust… conveying yourself through words and video, if that’s your way to do it, is extremely powerful and is a quick up the ladder to getting there than putting out, like you said, an image that doesn’t say anything behind it.” – LuAnn

“There are so many people who can make a room beautiful, but there’s only one you. So how do you show up?” – Pippa

More About Pippa Biddle

Pippa Biddle is the co-founder with her husband, Benjamin Davidson, of Quittner, a lighting and homewares design practice in the Hudson Valley of New York. As CEO of Quittner, Pippa leads business strategy, growth, marketing, and communications. With a deep background in writing as a published author, essayist, and current writer for the Magazine Antiques, Pippa brings a story-forward approach to brand development. Pippa has a degree in creative writing from Columbia and has previously written for the Atlantic, Wired, BBC, Guernica, and more. She has spoken on the power of storytelling to catalyze action at conferences and gatherings from Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi.

Connect with Pippa Biddle

Website

Instagram

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

⁠Design Trade Service⁠

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

⁠⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠⁠⁠

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: ⁠⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠⁠

Audiobook: ⁠⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠⁠

Book 2: ⁠⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠⁠

Book 3: ⁠⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2⁠⁠⁠

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠Blog⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Power Talk Friday⁠⁠⁠

Like Us: ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | Tweet Us: ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | Listen Here: ⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠!

⁠⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠⁠

Corey Damen Jenkins – Instagram

Staged To Sell – Instagram

Inside Voice – Sign Up!

Hamilton Creatives

Other Shows:⁠

AWDB #274: Power Talk Friday: Kae Whitaker- Part 2 of Email Marketing for your Interior Design Firm

AWDB #987: Kate Wood: Discovering and Leaning into Your Niche

AWDB #1082: What Would Lu Do?: The Big Shift: What’s Changing on A Well-Designed Business and Why

Today With Shea & Syd McGee:

This powerhouse episode from 2016 features the dynamic duo behind one of the most recognized interior design brands today—Shea and Syd McGee of Studio McGee. We’re bringing this gem back because it’s more relevant than ever.

What you’ll learn:

• How they carved out a distinctive design identity that stood out from the start
• The early strategic choices that laid the foundation for a now-iconic brand
• Why transparency and authenticity fueled their rapid online growth
• How they navigated business roles as a married couple—dividing and conquering with purpose
• The mindset shifts that transformed obstacles into opportunities

LuAnn Nigara, Shea & Syd McGee’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“Once I decided I wasn’t going to be everything to everyone, my brand started to grow.” — Shea McGee

“You can’t build a sustainable business if you’re not looking at the financials every single week.” — Syd McGee

More About Shea & Syd McGee

Shea McGee is the Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Studio McGee,

leading the creative direction for all facets within the Studio McGee Inc. portfolio of brands— Studio McGee, the interior design arm, and McGee & Co., the product side. Shea’s path to launching Studio McGee in 2014 began years before when she leM her position at an ad agency in order to manage the remodel of her and her husband Syd’s first California home. Documenting the process on social media, Shea became an early online influencer, quickly attracting a loyal following with her approachable style and ethos.

The online success led to the launch of her own interior design firm, Studio McGee. The design business experienced rapid growth, paving the way for the launch of their e-commerce brand, McGee & Co., along with a lineup of licensing partnerships and marketing opportunities that amplified their design voice—an autobiography, Make Life Beau+ful, a coffee table book, The Art of Home, a long-running show on Netflix, Dream Home Makeover, and product collaborations with brands like Target, Kohler, Ann Sacks, and Pura.

Today, Shea is regarded as one of the leading innovators in the interior design industry with her ‘sophisticated but not stuffy’ approach, while maintaining a consistent focus on empowering others to “Make Life Beautiful” by enhancing their daily lives through good design.

Connect with Shea & Syd McGee⁠

Studio McGee

McGee And Co

Studio McGee Instagram

McGee And Co Instagram

YouTube

The Art Of Home Book

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Design Trade Service

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠

⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠⁠

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Audiobook: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Book 2: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠

Book 3: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2⁠⁠

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠Blog⁠⁠

⁠⁠Power Talk Friday⁠⁠

Like Us: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | Tweet Us: ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ | Follow Us: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | Listen Here: ⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠here⁠⁠!

⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠

⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠

Mydoma Studio – Get 20% off your first three months!

Other Shows:

AWDB #1082: What Would Lu Do?: The Big Shift: What’s Changing on A Well-Designed Business and Why

AWDB #32: Robin Baron – The President of ASID NY Metro Chapter Talks with us about PR and Brand Development

AWDB #540: Robin Baron: Strategic Thinking on Product Development

Today With Megan Thompson:

Today, I’m joined by Megan Thompson, founder of Interior Design GreenList. After earning her degree in sustainable design, Megan discovered the frustrating reality that no comprehensive resource existed to help designers implement sustainable practices efficiently. Taking matters into her own hands, she created ID GreenList to bridge this gap.

In this episode, we demystify the differences between green, vegan, biophilic, and sustainable design while revealing how these approaches can seamlessly integrate into your projects without sacrificing beauty, functionality, or budget. Megan shares practical insights for designers at any experience level and reveals how sustainability could become your competitive advantage in today’s market. Plus, discover her exclusive offer just for our listeners!

LuAnn Nigara and Megan Thompson’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“The goal with sustainability is to have a lower impact and for humans to be happy and healthy in the spaces we create,” – Megan Thompson

More About Megan Thompson

Like many interior designers, Megan Thompson owns her design firm. She has a bachelor’s degree in sustainable interior design from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Despite all the knowledge she gained in her education, she found implementing sustainability into her work frustrating. No single platform exists where all the information is easily accessible and saves you time on your projects.

She decided to take matters into her own hands and created Interior Design greenList to make sustainable design easy to understand and implement, regardless of a designer’s background or experience.

At Interior Design greenList, Megan teaches designers about sustainability so they can navigate the industry, be ready for new baselines in industry standards, speak to industry partners with confidence, and become the go-to designer for sustainability in their area.

Connect with Megan Thompson

Website

Instagram

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Design Trade Service

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠

⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠⁠

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Audiobook: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Book 2: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠

Book 3: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2⁠⁠

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠Blog⁠⁠

⁠⁠Power Talk Friday⁠⁠

Like Us: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | Tweet Us: ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ | Follow Us: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | Listen Here: ⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠here⁠⁠!

⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠

⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠

Mydoma Studio – Get 20% off your first three months!

Other Shows:

AWDB #729- Erica Reiner: Make More Green by Going Green

AWDB #773- Power Talk Friday: The Company Store: Quality, Sustainability, and Innovation

AWDB #809- Power Talk Friday: Michelle Rohrer-Lauer: Turning Eco-Friendly Design into a “Green” Bottom Line

AWDB #996- Power Talk Friday: Katie Decker-Erickson: Building True Confidence Through Knowledge and Experience

AWDB #991: Chloe Bullock: Conscious Design

AWDB #1072: Maya Crowne & Price Latimer: Alkemis Paint is Disrupting the Industry with Sustainable Luxury

Today With Veronika Miller:

I’m excited to introduce you to Veronika Miller, a true innovator who has spent her career building meaningful connections between designers, brands, and international markets. From her early days as a marketing professional and kitchen designer to founding the influential Design Hounds Influencer Network and consulting with organizations like NKBA, Veronika has a unique talent for creating opportunities where others see obstacles.

In this episode, Veronika and I discuss her entrepreneurial journey, exploring how a fearless approach and commitment to genuine value have shaped her multiple successful ventures. You’ll hear about the power of stepping out of your comfort zone, the importance of international perspectives in design, and how creating strategic connections can transform your business.

LuAnn Nigara and Veronika Miller’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“The answer is defiintely no if you don’t ask.” – LuAnn

“It’s not fearlessness. It’s ‘doing’ despite fear.” – Veronika

“It’s a piece of wood. If you don’t like this one, I’ll get you another.” – Veronika

More About Veronika Miller

Veronika Miller is CEO of M2 Connect LLC and Founder of three brands: The Designhounds Influencer Network, which includes Designhounds Events and the Designhounds Talks Webcasts; M2 Consulting Group, a team of industry experts focused on business development for brands and industry organizations including the NKBA’s international development program, Global Connect and finally the DesignTrail App, a digital lead management and communication application for buyers and sellers set to launch in 2025.

Connect with Veronika Miller

Design Hounds

Design Hounds – Instagram

M2 Consulting Group

M2 Consulting Group – Email

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Design Trade Service

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠

⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠

⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠here⁠. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: ⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠

Audiobook: ⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠

Book 2: ⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠

Book 3: ⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2⁠

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s ⁠Website⁠

LuAnn’s ⁠Blog⁠

⁠Power Talk Friday⁠

Like Us: ⁠Facebook⁠ | Tweet Us: ⁠Twitter⁠ | Follow Us: ⁠Instagram⁠ | Listen Here: ⁠Podcast⁠

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the ⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠. Learn more about it ⁠here⁠!

⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠

⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠

Designhounds Talks Chicago at The Mart : Business Spark Conference – May 7th!

ISH Frankfurt

InstallerSHOW 2025 UK – June 24th to 26th!

German Haus Fair Tour – Sept 20th to 24th!

Interzum in Cologne, Germany – May 20th to 23rd!

Other Shows:

AWDB #807: Power Talk Friday: Claire Jefford: Interior Design Boss Academy. Why Trust & Experience Matter in Creating a Profitable Business

AWDB #485: Power Talk Friday: Claire Jefford: Rock the Consult

AWDB #825: Power Talk Friday: Cheryl Clendenon: The Design Paradigm – Creating a Strong Framework For Your Interior Design Business

AWDB #482: Cheryl Clendenon: Small Business, Think Big

AWDB #568: Arianne Bellizaire: “A Reluctant and Accidental Leader in #BLM”

AWDB #20: Arianne Bellizaire – Could Your Hobby or Hidden Talent Be Your Marketing Platform?

Today With LuAnn Nigara:

After 9 years, 1,400+ episodes, and over 9 million downloads, A Well-Designed Business is evolving.

In this solo episode, LuAnn shares the next chapter of the podcast—and why this shift isn’t a step back, but a powerful step forward. She explains the two types of episodes you’ll hear in the coming months, and the all-new format she’s creating to deliver even more value for seasoned business owners.

Whether you’re new to the show or have been with LuAnn since the beginning, this is an episode that lays out exactly how A Well-Designed Business will continue to support you, your growth, and your goals—now more than ever.

Listen now to hear:

• Why weekly interviews are on pause
• What’s replacing them—and why it’s better for your business
• What you can expect from the new format: pain-point-focused, expert-curated compilation episodes
• Why LuAnn created InsideVoice (and how to join)
• And what’s happening with Book #4…

This isn’t the end—it’s the evolution.

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Design Trade Service

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here!

AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project

AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design

InsideVoice – Sign Up Here!

Design Trade Service

Designhounds Talks Chicago at The Mart : Business Spark Conference

Other Shows:

AWDB #1062: 9 Years of A Well-Designed Business—How Vision & Bold Action Can Grow Your Business

Today With Tracee Murphy:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, we’re diving deep into the psychology involved in the sales process—and why it begins with understanding that you are a luxury service provider.

Tracee Murphy, psychologist-turned-designer, leverages her background in her business, and teaches others to do the same thing. Today, she’s here to unpack how understanding client motivations and mastering deep listening are key to success in the high-end market.

LuAnn Nigara andTracee Murphy’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“Luxury is really defined by the client… if we don’t understand what they’re wanting, then we can’t possibly deliver it.” -Tracee

“If the only thing you ever did as a salesperson was stop talking and listen, you’re gonna be way ahead of the game.” – LuAnn

More About Tracee Murphy

Thanks to degrees in interior design and psychology, Tracee understands how your home’s interior can impact your moods and the way you live. She is particularly skilled at listening to her client’s needs to develop spaces that meet and exceed expectations. From managing multiple perspectives on a project to staying abreast of the latest codes, Tracee thrives on reflecting “Your Style of Living.”

Tracee and her team believe that each project is unique, with its own singular design aesthetic. To that end, she and her team work to reflect the personality of each homeowner or business behind the space. Her passion is for classic styling with a relaxed and sophisticated feeling.

A licensed interior designer in Florida, Tracee regularly attends continuing education classes to ensure she is constantly evolving in her approach while also remaining up to date on all health and safety requirements.

When she isn’t creating beautiful living spaces, Tracee loves traveling the world, walking the beach and enjoying the “salt life.” She regularly supports the arts and culture that Sarasota has to offer, but most of all, she relishes spending time with her family and dogs, George Washington and Sophie Jo, who you’ll find in the TMI Design Studio on most days.

Connect with Tracee Murphy

Website

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

The Designer Launch – Download Now!

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Design Trade Service

2025 Business of Interiors Community Summit

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here!

AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project

AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design

Design Trade Service

Designhounds Talks Chicago at The Mart : Business Spark Conference

Other Shows:

#409 Candy Scott & Rachel Cannon: Interior Design is a Service Business Not a Commodity Business

#587 Darrell Long: The Best Design Comes From Within, Not Pinterest

#842 Joshua Smith: Sell the Experiences, Not the Commodity

#971 Vicente Wolf: How to Bring True Artistry into Interior Design

Today With Rebecca Pearson:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. In today’s on-air strategy session,

I’m joined by Rebecca Pearson, who recently acquired Design I.D., an interior design and architectural refurbishment consultancy. Rebecca finds herself facing several challenges during the transition, starting with smoothing out processes and creating SOPs.

Rebecca’s situation might be unique, but it comes down to the same core problem that so many business owners face—how to find the time to create the systems and processes you know you need to make everything else run smoother.

LuAnn Nigara and Rebecca Pearson’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“It’s never going to feel like there’s time for SOPs and regular meetings—you have to carve it out, or it just won’t happen.” – LuAnn

“We can’t continue to give the same personal touch our clients expect if we don’t have clear processes documented.” – Rebecca

“You don’t know what you don’t know—so having processes documented ensures consistency, especially through transitions.” – Rebecca

“These team meetings aren’t for no reason—a lot of good comes out of them.” – LuAnn

More About Rebecca Pearson

As Creative Services Director for Waterfield Hill, a family-run investment company focused on the interiors sector, I oversee business growth, design, brand, and marketing across our three subsidiaries—DBSJ, Denne Joinery, and Design I.D.

After studying architecture at university, my career has spanned creative services in the interiors sector, working with contractors, consultants, and design studios before co-founding Waterfield Hill in 2022 alongside my father, mother, brother, and husband. Since then, we have strategically expanded our group — acquiring DBSJ in 2022, Denne Joinery in 2023, and Design I.D. in 2024 — with a shared vision: to create exceptional interiors, together. In 2024, we were honoured to be recognised by The Sunday Times as one of Britain’s Top 20 fastest-growing private companies and by Construction News as Fit-Out Specialist of the Year (DBSJ).

My current focus is successfully integrating our latest acquisition, Design I.D., an interior design and architectural refurbishment consultancy, ensuring a seamless transition into our group. I thrive in fast-paced environments, bringing clarity and structure to complex challenges, and am dedicated to setting up our businesses for continued success, profitability, efficiency, and growth.

Connect with Rebecca Pearson

Website

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Design Trade Service

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here!

AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project

AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design

Exciting Windows! 21st Annual Conference – April 16th-18th in West Palm Beach, Florida!

Design Trade Service – Sign Up Today!

2025 Business of Interiors Community Summit

Kravet

Today With Noel Gatts:

Today I am joined by Noel Gatts, founder of beam&bloom interiors and HGTV Host on “Home Inspector Joe” and “What’s Wrong With That House?” With a unique background spanning from Broadway to interior design, Noel brings a character-driven approach that transforms how designers connect with clients. In this episode, she reveals how her theatrical training informs her design process, helping her understand clients as “characters” with unique needs and stories, moving beyond standard questionnaires to questions that lead to deeper discovery.

Through examples from both her design practice and television experience, Noel demonstrates how investing time in understanding clients’ characters leads to fewer revisions, stronger relationships, and spaces that authentically reflect who they are. Her candid discussion about the realities of design television offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how designers create impact despite tight timelines and budget constraints, while providing practical strategies for creating a character-driven approach that saves time and builds trust in your own design business.

LuAnn Nigara and Noel Gatts’s Ah-Ha Moments:

“We can learn so much if we don’t make it about what we want to do, but use our talents to enhance what the client wants to do,” – Noel Gatts

More About Noel Gatts

HGTV Host and Designer on two popular hour long renovation shows since 2022, “Home Inspector Joe” and “What’s Wrong With That House?” and creator of the “heart+home+harmony LIVE” series on Instagram and YouTube, Noel is known for her warm & spirited personality and her penchant for statement earrings. A hallmark of her ethos is her ability to authentically, compassionately & intuitively connect with her audience, colleagues and clients. Her character driven approach to design, and her focus on savvy and sustainable investments is prevalent in all of her work.

Connect with Noel Gatts

Beam & Bloom, Interior Design Studio

Website

Instagram

Noel Gatts, TV/Hosting/Personality Page

Website

Instagram

YouTube, Interior Enthusiast Chanel, with heart+home+harmony “podcast” LIVE archives

YouTube

TikTok

LinkedIn

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

The Power Talk Friday Tour

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Resources:

This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here!

AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project

AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design

Exciting Windows! 21st Annual Conference – April 16th-18th in West Palm Beach, Florida!

Design Trade Service – Sign Up Today!

Other Shows:

AWDB #297: Mikel Welch: Interior Design, TV, Self Made Man

AWDB # 833: Flashback Friday: Mikel Welch: Be Determined and Get the Job Done

AWDB #1005: Campbell Minister: Building a Referral Based Interior Design Business

AWDB #704: Power Talk Friday: George Oliphant: George to the Rescue